Is it Wrong to Create New Words?
In an ever advancing world, it's only natural that societies would create new words and begin to use them on a daily basis. In a Ted Talk speech about words, a woman by the name of Anne Curzan discusses the acceptance of new words and the addition of those words to the dictionary. Anne Curzan explains how new words, despite being popular, are not always accepted as "words" by various people. Anne states that famous historical figures like Dean Henry Alford have protested the usage of words that we commonly utilize today.
In Anne's speech, she continues to talk about how dictionaries attempt to add new words to the index albeit different from dictionary to dictionary. Mrs. Curzan mentions how the editors behind each dictionary are critically important to keep note of as their interpretations on the correct usage of a word varies from one another. She goes into detail about how many of the commonly used words in modern society have not been completely accepted by various people.
Anne closes her speech out by saying, "If a community of speakers is using a word and knows what it means, it's real." It's an interesting statement that might not sit well with some people. However, if one takes into consideration of how language had first been developed and used, then perhaps the statement is logical. In addition, the definition of "word" suggests that if there is a meaning behind a word, then it is indeed a word.
Some commonly used words have been added to a "banished words list" created by Lake Superior State University. While some of the reasons behind the words on the list make sense, there are words that should be reconsidered. For example, the word "tons" being used to express "many of something" has been condemned to the infamous list. The argument as to why "tons" has been added to the list does make sense; however, the university claims that using the word "lots" is sufficient enough to replace the word. In disagreement, the word "lots" is often used for varying ranges of what is considered as "lots." Whereas, if one were to use "tons," it's possible that people may understand that the amount of something is substantially large.
If one is to disagree with the usage of a particularly new word, then that individual is simply being stubborn. Languages are always evolving. As new ideas and discoveries are made, new words for those things are created. The fact that it is possible to be more specific about various concepts and ideas via the creation of new words should not be rejected, but rather embraced wholeheartedly. The ability to convey ideas efficiently through the usage of new words, which have increasingly specific meanings behind them, is an exceptional part of the development of language.
In Anne's speech, she continues to talk about how dictionaries attempt to add new words to the index albeit different from dictionary to dictionary. Mrs. Curzan mentions how the editors behind each dictionary are critically important to keep note of as their interpretations on the correct usage of a word varies from one another. She goes into detail about how many of the commonly used words in modern society have not been completely accepted by various people.
Anne closes her speech out by saying, "If a community of speakers is using a word and knows what it means, it's real." It's an interesting statement that might not sit well with some people. However, if one takes into consideration of how language had first been developed and used, then perhaps the statement is logical. In addition, the definition of "word" suggests that if there is a meaning behind a word, then it is indeed a word.
Some commonly used words have been added to a "banished words list" created by Lake Superior State University. While some of the reasons behind the words on the list make sense, there are words that should be reconsidered. For example, the word "tons" being used to express "many of something" has been condemned to the infamous list. The argument as to why "tons" has been added to the list does make sense; however, the university claims that using the word "lots" is sufficient enough to replace the word. In disagreement, the word "lots" is often used for varying ranges of what is considered as "lots." Whereas, if one were to use "tons," it's possible that people may understand that the amount of something is substantially large.
If one is to disagree with the usage of a particularly new word, then that individual is simply being stubborn. Languages are always evolving. As new ideas and discoveries are made, new words for those things are created. The fact that it is possible to be more specific about various concepts and ideas via the creation of new words should not be rejected, but rather embraced wholeheartedly. The ability to convey ideas efficiently through the usage of new words, which have increasingly specific meanings behind them, is an exceptional part of the development of language.
I love how to the point your post was. I completely agree. If someone is simply refusing change, they truly are just being stubborn. Our language continues to change daily and to hinder that in any sort of way is negligent.
ReplyDelete